As Think About It prepares for it's first anniversary, I decide to wax pensive. Basically, I find it ironic that the very things we use to divide ourselves and separate us from others are the same things that make us unique and beautiful. We are not carbon copies of each other; even on identical twins, there is some small difference between them. Different time periods, especially in America, mark different societal opinions about what is beautiful. In the 1920s, it was pale skin, short hair, and red lips. Today, it's natural make-up and tanned skin. Even in nature, beauty is not a fixed concept. The sands of the arid dessert are actually wind-weathered sculptures. A nondescript oyster buried in the sand holds a precious gem.

Sometimes, different opinions of beauty, especially among people, are so subtle it's ridiculous. Someone told me that when they visited London, African Brits thought Black Carribean Brits to be absolutely gorgeous. But the Carribean Brits thought other Carribeans to be exteremely unattractive. So who's to say what REALLY makes someone beautiful? There are countless people who I personally do not find attractive, but to someone else, they are exquisite. We really can't say that someone or something is beautiful or ugly, instead, we should clarify by saying that it's beautiful TO ME.

Out of curiosity, I want to know what you see as beautiful, whether it's a person, something in nature, art, anything at all. And I challenge all of you to push the boundaries of what you see as beautiful. Look at the images below; if your first instinct is that it's ugly, look closer and find at least one aspect of the image that appeals to you. I guarantee you'll find beauty in unexpected places.